CHESTER City was in turmoil yesterday with manager Ian Rush and coach Mark Aizlewood facing a stand-off with chairman Stephen Vaughan.

The management team is reported to have rejected a compensation package to walk out on their two-and-a-half year contracts. They were still in charge yesterday and could be on the touchline when City face Southend United at the Saunders Honda Stadium tomorrow.

Rush declined to comment on events this week, but his solicitor-agent Dean Sheehan, who is also acting for Aizle-wood, would not confirm his clients had been offered terms to resign.

He said: 'Comments attributed to Mr Vaughan in the media are highly inaccurate. We are urgently seeking discussions with the club to find a way forward. My clients do not want to conduct their business through the media.'

But Rush claims in his column on page 90 that he remains confident in his ability to do the manager's job and calls for fans to get behind the team.

Although he wasn't at the game, Vaughan made a move to replace Rush and Aizlewood following the humiliating 5-0 defeat to Shrewsbury on Saturday, a little over six months after announcing their appointment.

Vaughan said yesterday: 'I have no faith in the management team or in anyone they are trying to bring to the club. I asked them to resign with dignity but they would not agree to the compensation package offered.

'Our relationship has broken down, but I have full faith in the playing staff with or without the board of directors backing the management team.'

Rush and Aizlewood were surprise appointments at the end of August following the resignation of Mark Wright and a short caretaker spell by ex-Tranmere boss Ray Mathias.

His first victory, against Macclesfield, started a 10-match unbeaten run which ended with a 4-0 defeat at Yeovil. A 15-match run without a win followed and although City ended their barren spell with back-to-back wins against fellow strugglers Rushden & Diamonds and Kidderminster the rot set in again with a hat-trick of defeats by Yeovil, Grimsby and Shrewsbury.

During Rush's time in the hotseat City have sold their best players, Danny Collins to Sunderland, and top scorer Kevin Ellison to Hull City.

Rush was manager of the month for October and was linked with the Welsh team manager's job which went to John Toshack after Rush withdrew from the contest. The contracts of Rush and Aizlewood were then renegotiated.

Rush was happy to look ahead to tomorrow's visit of Southend who are the form team in League Two with four successive wins and only two defeats since November.

'It is business as usual as far as I am concerned,' he said.

'The players are behind the management team and are up for it. They have been different class in training.'

Rush has selection problems. Chris Mackenzie, Ashley Sestanovich and Darren Edmondson have missed training through illness and George Elokobi has returned to Colchester following his loan spell.

But defender Phil Bolland may be back after injury and Michael Branch has a chance of returning after his hamstring problem.

Chester reserves were beaten 2-0 at Blackpool on Wednesday.

Free tickets are available at the club for City's game at Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow week. The ticket office will be open between 10am and 4pm from Monday-Friday, but not following tomorrow's game.